Fresolo: I'll be rep 'for a long time'

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2013 at 6:00 AMMar 26, 2013 at 8:53 PM

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Days after House Speaker Robert DeLeo confirmed an internal ethics investigation into a member of the House, the reported target of that inquiry, Rep. John Fresolo, was back at the Statehouse Monday, and reiterated he has no plans of resigning.

“I'm going to be state rep for a long time,” Fresolo told the News Service during a brief discussion in the hallway, where he was accompanied by an unidentified woman.

Fresolo has repeatedly declined to comment on the rumored allegations against him, citing advice of counsel. He told the News Service that he could not discuss any details of what might be happening, but insisted he will not resign his seat.

DeLeo last Thursday night confirmed that a House employee had brought a complaint against a member to House counsel two weeks ago. After asking House counsel to conduct a preliminary review of the allegations, DeLeo said there was sufficient merit to warrant a full Ethics Committee investigation.

The 11-member House Ethics Committee, chaired by Dorchester Rep. Marty Walsh, has declined to comment on the investigation, citing rules of confidentiality.

A majority of the Ethics Committee, which includes four House Republicans, can vote by rule to recommend a reprimand, censure, removal from a chairmanship or other position of authority or expulsion.